After Morganna finished her report, the air in the room turned glacial.Jaden Rift stood completely still for a moment, his expression unreadable. But the longer he stared, the darker his gaze became—until his eyes were cold enough to freeze blood.Then, slowly, he turned toward Hector Packwood.The man looked pitiful—sweaty, trembling, and far less dignified than the pompous businessman he had been an hour ago. His clothes were rumpled, his skin pale, his lips twitching nervously.Jaden’s voice was quiet, but it carried the weight of thunder.“How dare you threaten my wife?”The words hit like a physical blow.Hector opened his mouth, but no words came out. His throat was dry, his tongue heavy. “M–Mr. Rift, I—I didn’t mean—”His stammering only made things worse.Jaden took a step closer, his shoes clicking against the floor like the ticking of a bomb. “Didn’t mean it?” His tone was calm now—too calm. “You told her you could ‘help her husband’ if she spent a night with you. That’s no

The drive back was quiet at first. The rhythmic hum of the car’s engine filled the silence, punctuated only by the faint whoosh of passing streetlights.Selena sat in the passenger seat, hands folded tightly in her lap. Her thoughts were still spinning from everything that had happened at the detention center — the blood, the shouting, the humiliation Hector had suffered. It felt like something out of a nightmare.She glanced sideways at her husband, who was calmly steering the car, his expression unreadable.Finally, she broke the silence.“Jaden,” she said softly, “since when did you know Deputy Chief Vax? If it weren’t for him, we would’ve been in serious trouble tonight.”Jaden’s lips curved into a faint smile — the kind that didn’t quite reach his eyes.“Actually,” he said lightly, “I hardly know Granddon Vax at all.”Selena blinked, confused. “What? Then… why was he helping you so much?”She turned in her seat to face him fully now.Locking Henry Lancaster and his men up was one

Alfred stayed a pace behind Leon, hands clasped together, voice low and urgent as he relayed the latest intelligence. The gazebo’s stillness seemed to amplify every word.“Sir,” Alfred said, “there are rumors that the Rift Corporation has become one of Ironvale’s crown jewels. Jaden Rift has cultivated very close ties with the city’s officials—so close that they chose to protect him instead of showing deference to Captain Lancaster.”Leon’s fingers tightened around the smooth lacquer of his fishing rod. A small crease formed between his brows. “Tiny, presumptuous Ironvale,” he muttered. “How dare they?” He let the barb hang in the air like a thrown gauntlet. “Do they not know Captain Lancaster acted on my orders?”Alfred bowed slightly. “I do not believe the higher-ups in Ironvale were informed of your directive, sir. Had they known, they would never have dared lay a finger on Lancaster.”That possibility eased Leon’s shoulders only a fraction. He watched the lake ripple, blood from t

Carley Rajar crossed her legs elegantly, a smug smile curling her lips. “Mr. Nagger can’t wait to get rid of Jaden Rift,” she said coolly. “If the party is held in his name and Jaden dies during the event, everyone will assume Mr. Nagger orchestrated it himself. His influence will seem even more absolute—feared and respected throughout the South.”Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “Tell me, Leo, wouldn’t a man like him be pleased to have others think his will reaches even here?”Leo’s cold gaze flickered briefly. He understood now—Carley wasn’t just ruthless, she was clever. She intended to draw blood while wearing Leon Nagger’s mask, turning Jaden’s death into a message for all of Ironvale.He bowed slightly. “Understood, Ms. Carley. I’ll see to it immediately.”---By the next morning, Ironvale City was abuzz with gossip. Word had spread that Leon Nagger, King of the South, would personally host a grand business reception at the Ironvale Grand Hotel.Within hours, the city’s upper

Selena Verrick froze at the old man’s sharp tone. His eyes burned with indignation, his chest heaving as though he could strike out at any moment. Startled, she immediately stepped forward, clutching Jaden’s arm and bowing slightly in apology.“Sir, my husband misspoke,” she said hurriedly, her voice gentle but anxious. “He didn’t mean any disrespect. Please forgive him. He can be… blunt at times. I hope you won’t take his words to heart.”The murmurs in the crowd subsided slightly. A few of the spectators nodded, clearly hoping the matter would end peacefully. The old man’s stern face seemed to ease a little, though his eyes still glimmered with offense.But before the air could settle, Jaden Rift’s calm voice cut through the silence like a knife.“Selena,” he said evenly, “you don’t have to apologize.”He raised his gaze to the old man, his tone cool and detached. “I simply spoke the truth. Even though he looks strong and full of life on the outside, his internal organs have long be